Opslag hos ADRA Danmark

Evaluation of ADRA DK funded Livelihood Programmes in Syria and Yemen (2018-2024) Terms of Reference 1 . Introduction This Terms of Reference (TOR) relates to the evaluation of ADRA’s livelihood activities in Syria and Yemen, funded under the Danida Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPA) between 2018 and 2025. This evaluation is commissioned by ADRA Denmark (ADRA DK) and will cover the period from January 2018 to December 2 024. This TOR was prepared by ADRA DK based on an initial document review and consultation with ADRA Syria and ADRA Yemen. The purpose of the TOR is to outline the evaluation process and provide key information to the evaluation team and evaluation committee (see section 7). 2 . Background and Context In Syria, while large-scale conflicts have ceased following the March 2020 ceasefire agreement in Idleb, the country continues to suffer a deteriorating socio-economic crisis with unprecedented fluctuations in the exchange rate, and the worst devaluation in the Syrian Pound in 2023. More and more people are facing poverty and are having destitute conditions with limited access to fundamental services and livelihood possibilities, affecting particularly those who are most susceptible and marginalized. The earthquake that hit Aleppo and Lattakia on 6 February 2023, which led to thousands of casualties among Syrians in the affected areas, also had a devastating impact on the economy, infrastructure and access to basic services. Positive drivers of change in Syria include the relatively stable security situation in government-controlled areas allowing for more long-term, sustainable resilience programming, such as the livelihood activities which are subject of this evaluation. In Syria, the livelihoods activities which are to be evaluated are a part of a larger programme, which also included/includes Education in Emergencies (EiE), WASH, health, Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), food security and nutrition interventions. They were/are partly implemented in the same areas and target the same communities, where possible. The livelihoods component has the objective to improve resilience and self-reliance of affected households through supporting them in restoring their livelihoods. The key actions are the provision of basic business management training combined with in-kind grants to help start small-scale businesses for those trainees who present a viable business plan. ADRA also offers specialized skills training to the grantees, where the need is identified, to further boost the success of the businesses. ADRA targets the most vulnerable households with previous business experience, such as female-headed households or households with members living with a disability. After more than nine years of conflict, millions of people in Yemen continue to be severely affected by the compounded effects of armed conflict, economic crisis and disrupted public services. In 2024, an estimated 18,2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance with food insecurity, malnutrition, WASH and protection issues remaining severe. IDPs, refugees and migrants are among the most vulnerable and affected by the conflict. Aden governorate, where ADRA Denmark is present, hosts thousands of IDPs, migrants and refugees, the majority living in slums, poor and neglected neighborhoods with poor access to basic services. The protracted crisis in Yemen has amplified existing equality gaps and curtailed Yemen’s economic growth, job creation and labour productivity. The trade of buying and selling goods has become overwhelmingly expensive and the Yemeni rial continue to depreciate, severely affecting the purchasing power of the population. Also in Yemen, ADRA’s livelihood activities are a part of a comprehensive programme that also includes Cash for Work (CfW) with integrated hygiene interventions, food security and nutrition interventions, protection activities and support to community-led crisis response (sclr). ADRA has focused on improving livelihoods in order to promote self-reliance and strengthen the resilience of the targeted population. Interventions aiming at promoting socio-economic inclusion and enhancing resilience involves support to small businesses, in-kind grants, and business training to support beneficiaries in establishing or restarting businesses. Recently, ADRA has piloted the establishment of hydroponics for crops as a part of the livelihood activities. The aim is to prevent further deterioration of the living conditions and to reduce aid dependency, as well as to contribute to restoring dignified living conditions for affected people. These programmes are funded by Danida through 4-year funding cycles and are implemented by ADRA Syria and ADRA Yemen. In Syria, ADRA Syria works closely with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) to implement the livelihood activities. In Yemen they are fully implemented by ADRA Yemen. The first programmes ran from 2018-2021 and the second started in 2022 and will end in December 2025. 3 . Evaluation purpose, scope and objectives Purpose/objective: • • After having conducted livelihood activities for seven years in Syria and Yemen, the purpose of this evaluation is to learn how effective the livelihood activities are and what can be done to increase the sustainability and success of the interventions. Another purpose is to have the approach thoroughly reviewed and receive actionable recommendations for improvements before preparing for the next programme cycle (2026-2030), which ADRA will start designing in 2025. Scope: • Livelihood activities in Syria under the Danida funded VCD (2018-2021) and COPE projects (2022- 2 024), covering the period January 2018 to December 2024, in Homs, Lattakia and Aleppo governorates. • Livelihood activities in Yemen under the Danida funded ERB (2018-2021) and ELC projects (2022- 2 024) in Aden. Users of the evaluation: ADRA DK, ADRA Syria and ADRA Yemen will change or adjust their livelihood strategy and future programming according to the recommendations of this evaluation. Since the next 5-year funding • cycle will be prepared in 2025, the findings of this evaluation will be used to design an improved livelihoods programme for 2026-2030. • • ADRA DK will use the findings (if effectiveness of livelihood approach is confirmed) to advocate for donor funding. Since the livelihood activities in Syria and Yemen are similar, ADRA Syria and ADRA Yemen may learn from each other’s livelihood programming, depending on the findings of this evaluation. 4 . Evaluation criteria and questions Relevance To what extent have the livelihood approaches in both Syria and Yemen been relevant for the • target groups? Effectiveness • What have been the key results and changes attained for the families and communities who benefitted from the livelihood activities, including the different sex, age and vulnerability groups? o To what extend have the objectives of the livelihoods component of the projects been achieved? o Have there been any unintended outcome-level results beyond the planned outcomes? • What could be done to strengthen the effectiveness of the approach? Sustainability • • How sustainable are the livelihood activities? What could be done to strengthen the sustainability of the approach? 5 . Project information and available data Syria Vulnerable Communities live with Dignity (VCD) Country Syria Region Homs governorate Start End Project period January 2018 December 2021 Number of small businesses established Approx. 200 Creating Opportunities for People in Emergencies (COPE) Syria Country Region Homs, Lattakia and Aleppo governorates Start End Project period January 2022 December 2025 Number of small businesses established Approx. 700 The following documents are available for the document review: • • • • Project documents Annual reports/ADRA SPA Results Reports Monthly or quarterly reports Grant contracts The following data is available: Syria VCD Collected during: Indicator 1 Indicator 2 Indicator 3 % of livelihood beneficiaries reporting a reduction in negative 2018-2021 coping strategies % of beneficiaries reporting improvements in income as a result of project activities 2018-2021 # individuals benefiting from improved income (including 2021 household members of direct beneficiaries) Syria COPE Indicator 1 Indicator 2 % of households using more than 2 crisis coping strategies # of people reporting increased income from (re-) established 2022-2023 business 2022-2023 Indicator 3 # of businesses that are functional at the end of the project 2023 Yemen Emergency and Resilience Building (ERB) Country Region Yemen Basateen, Aden governorate Start End December 2021 Project period January 2018 Number of small businesses established 80 Enhanced Life Conditions for the most vulnerable communities in Basateen area of Aden governorate (ELC) Country Region Yemen Aden governorate